Railway-signal.



J. B; STRUBLE RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1909. I I 987,653., Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

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J. B, STRUBLE.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLIOATIOK FILED JULY 19, 1909.

Patented Mar. 21,1911.

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JACOB B. STRUBLE, 0F VVILKIN$BUEG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Application filed July 19, 1909. Serial No. 508,294.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB B. STRUBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Wilkinsburg, Allegheny county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway signal mechanisms, and particularly to that type of mechanism comprising a semaphore for indication in two or more positions, an operating train of gears using an electic motor as a motive power for moving it, and an electrically operated means for retaining the semaphore in the posit-ions to which it may be moved.

I will describe a railway signal mechanism embodying my invention, and then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side and rear elevation of a railway signal mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing in detail a device for holding the signal in its clear and safety posi.

tions. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views showing in detail a centrifugal buffing device for retarding the speed of the mecha nism while the signal is returning toward its horizontal or danger position; Fig. 5 being a sectional View on the line 00-00 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 4 being a sectional view on the line yy of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The parts of the mechanism are in the position they assume when the semaphore is in its downward or clear position of indication.

In the drawings 1 have shown the signal mechanism as being located at the top of the supporting mast or post. I do not, how ever, wish to be limited to this location of the mechanism, as it may be placed at the bottom of, or at any point on the mast or post equally well. I have also shown the semaphore as being moved from its horizontal position downwardly to its other positions of indication. The semaphore may be made to move from its horizontal position upwardly to its other positions of indication equally well. These different arrangements are understood by those skilled in the art, and involve merely mechanical changes which need not be described.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

l designates a visual signal device here shown as being a semaphore, and comprising as usual a blade 38 and a counterweight 33. The counterweight 33 is adapted, when the semaphore is free to move, to move the blade to a horizontal position, which generally indicates danger or stop. The semaphore 1 is secured to a shaft 2.

Secured to the shaft 2 is a segment gear 4 which is driven by a pinion 5, and rigidly connected to the pinion 5 is a gear 6, which is, in turn, driven by a pinion 7, the latter being rigidly connected to and concentric with a gear 8, which is driven by a pinion 9. 2O designates an electric motor, to the shaft of which a centrifugal clutch 26 is keyed (see Fig. 3). Concentric with the clutch 26, but mechanically separate from it, is a shell 27 of such diameter that when clutch 26 is expanded against the action of a spring 28, due to centrifugal force, it engages with the shell 27 and thus transmits motion to the shell by friction. The shell 27 and the pinion 9 are rigidly connected. This clutch 26 and shell 27 comprise a centrifugal device which transmits motion to the gear train when the motor is running, but which permits the signal when released to return by gravity toward the horizontal position without revolving the motor.

The holding device for holding the semaphore in any of its positions of indication, except its horizontal position, is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and comprises an electromagnet 15 whose plunger transmits motion through links 30, 18, and 19 to a roller 16. When said magnet 15 is energized, the roller 16 is drawn up between a stationary wedge block 17 and the clutch shell 27 thus preventing the shell from revolving, and thereby holding the signal in any definite position. hen the magnet is deenergized, the roller falls away by gravity, assisted by the revolving tendency of the clutch shell, and the signal is thereby released, returning by gravity to the horizontal position. An important feature of my invention is the positive release action of this holding device. Upon being released by the controlling magnet 15, the roller 16 not only drops free by gravity, but is rolled out of its wedged position by the revolving tendency of the shell 27. Hence, the relative motion between the roller and the shell is not frictional or sliding, but purely rolling, so that any substance which may intrude between the two, such as snow, ice, solidified oil, etc., will be torn apart, insuring the proper release of the holding device.

To control the speed of the signal while returning toward its horizontal position, I use a frictional bufling device, such as is shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. In this device a pinion 11, driven by the gear 8, is secured to the same sleeve 10 as a pawl support 35. This sleeve 10 is free to turn on a shaft 34. Secured to this shaft 34, is a centrifugal expansion ring 13, also a ratchet wheel 25, having a notch 29, which engages a pawl 14, said pawl 14 being pivoted to its support 35 by means of a oin 37, and held with pressure against the wheel 25 by means of a spring 36. Surrounding the expansion ring 13 is a stationary shell 12 of such diameter that when the ring is expanded against the action of a spring 31, due to centrifugal force, it completely fills the shell, acting as a brake due to its friction against the inside surface of the shell. This shell 12 being rigidly attached to the frame of the mechanism, the friction retards and controls the speed of the mechanism while the signal is returning toward its horizontal position. The centrifugal expansion ring 13 and the shaft 34 do not revolve during the operation of driving the signal toward the clear position, because the direction of rotation of pawl 14 is then such that said pawl slips freely around the surface of the ratchet wheel 25 without engaging it.

A drum 3, driven by the semaphore shaft 2, carries metallic contact pieces 24, which pieces engage with contact fingers 23, thus controlling the electric operating circuits of the mechanism.

The entire mechanism as herein described is supported in a suitable framework 32, and it may be placed at the top of the signal post or mast, the semaphore 1 then being fixed directly to theshaft 2 as shown; or it may be placed at any other point on the pole or mast, the shaft 2 then being connected by means of suitable cranks and an operating rod with the semaphore.

In the accompanying drawings, the semaphore 1 is shown in clear or downward position, and in this position the segmental gear 4 rests against the spring stop 22, which stop is supported on the mechanism frame 32. WVhen the semaphore is released and falls by reason of its counterweight to the danger or horizontal position, the segmental gear 4 will strike spring stop 21, thereby avoiding severe shocks or blows to the mechanism frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a counterweighted signal device having a plurality of positions of indication, means for moving the signal device from one position of indication to another; and means for holding it in the positions to which it has been moved, comprising a cylindrical rotating member operatively connected with the signal device, a stationary wedge-shaped block, a roller adapted to be held between the block and the cylin drical member thereby locking the latter against rotation, and electro-magnetic means for holding the roller in the said position.

2. In combination with a counterweighted signal device having a plurality of positions of indication, means for movlng thesignal device from one position of indication to another; and means for holding it in the positions to which it has been moved, comprising a rotating member operatively connected with the signal device, a stationary member, a third member adapted to be held between the stationary member and the rotating mem- 7 her, thereby locking the latter member and the signal device against movement, and electromagnetic means for holding the third member in the said position.

3. In combination with a counterweighted signal device having a plurality of positions of indication, means for moving the signal devlce from one position of indication to another; and means for holding it in the positions to which it has been moved, comprising a rotating member operatively connected with the signal device, a stationary member, a third member loosely mounted, and adapted to be held between the stationary member and the rotating member, thereby locking the latter member against rotation, and an electromagnetic device adapted to hold the third member in the said position when energized.

4. In combination with a counterweighted signal device having a plurality of positions of indication; means for holding the signal device in any of its positions of indication comprising a rotating member operatively connected with the signal device, a stationary member, a third member loosely mountname to this specification in the presence of ed and adapted to be held between the other two subscribed Witnesses. two members thereby locking the rotating member against movement, and an electro- JACOB STRUBLE' magnetic device adapted when energized to Witnesses: hold the third member in the said position. JAMES CHALMERs, J r.,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my S. O. MENDENHALL.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

